HaydnNUFC

Soccer Saturday saying before the game how that awful forrin muck Puel was an absolute disgrace for making so many changes, and that there could be a shock on the cards.

Peterborough getting bummed.

I've been excited as f*** since Rafa's came in, I've never wanted to miss a match for the past 18 months. First half of last season was just brilliant. Might've been Championship football but it was the most enthusiasm I've felt for the Toon since I've been a fan, albeit that's a short while compared to some of you lot. Before Rafa, I wasn't apathetic but I was a bit less arsed. Under McClaren especially. For Pardew you could just despise the man after the Reading home defeat or the end of 2012/13 completely, and Carver you could laugh at. McClaren was just an uninspiring, wet flannel.

Someone please get their dad off of the computer.

Few things I can remember from Saturday: Getting a bruise on the ribcage in the celebrations of our goal. Belting out in unison with the rest of the away section "You fat cockney b******, get out of our club". Trying to get the "Hey Alan Shearer" chant going. It didn't get going. Thank f*** for that. I was awfully pissed, don't berate.

Few things I can remember from Saturday: Getting a bruise on the ribcage in the celebrations of our goal. Belting out in unison with the rest of the away section "You fat cockney bastard, get out of our club". Trying to get the "Hey Alan Shearer" chant going. It didn't get going.

Either that or Millwall v Rochdale. Saw that, but in the unlikelyhood that we got through, I'd rather not have 4,000+ Millwall fans in the town causing bother.

Winners of MK Dons v Coventry.

Whilst Rafa's here Vlad, there's hope. That's how I'm seeing it anyway. It all hinges on him; the entire club's future.

Just like Joe Kinnear as "DoF". All these f***ing years and nothing's changed. People still aim their anger at him though, I know in the grand scheme of things whether you swear at Ashley or Charnley makes no difference, but its the mentality. Charnley's just doing his job for his wage. If he was told to spend a load of money he would do, the man doing the damage is above him and he's a master at getting others to take the abuse. I know. It was the same for JFK, pretend to try to sign players, stay on a cushy little wage and take all the shit away from Ashley for when the end of the window came and went with no new incomings; churn out the "we tried our very best but couldn't get the deals over the line" statement. It's so fucking predictable that you have to laugh. I can't be arsed getting riled up about it.

Just like Joe Kinnear as "DoF". All these fucking years and nothing's changed.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-big-interview-france-14203539

That Palace fan is canny. Defends Zaha blindly to the hilt which you'd expect obviously, but I think he has a soft spot for us.

We’ll sign Jorgensen with money that was supposedly already available and the £15m for Mitro will disappear into fresh air. Mitrovic won't play for us ever again unless Gayle and Joselu get injured at the same time. What's the point in keeping him? He won't be played, regardless of how good or s*** people think he is. I'd rather we have someone who Rafa wants and will actually play. This is a perfectly feasible scenario though...? Due to the lone role and tactical approach our strikers have, it's unlikely they'll get injured during games. Gayle's muscles might explode again, like.

We’ll sign Jorgensen with money that was supposedly already available and the £15m for Mitro will disappear into fresh air. Mitrovic won't play for us ever again unless Gayle and Joselu get injured at the same time. What's the point in keeping him? He won't be played, regardless of how good or shit people think he is. I'd rather we have someone who Rafa wants and will actually play.

Snap their hands off. Throw it and whatever other funds we have at a striker. Jørgensen or whoever Rafa wants.

Repugnant.

BTW, I don't think he's a greater manager for us than Keegan and Robson. Yet. If Ashley goes, I think he's going to be in time. That is, assuming Rafa is still our manager by the time Ashley sells up/dies.

Not just trophies; what he's already done for the club. Staying on in the Championship to bring us back up when he didn't have to. Bringing fans back from apathy to caring about the club again. Potentially being the centrepiece of a takeover, and seeing out the cancer on this football club that is Mike Ashley. Seeing the potential of this football club and wanting to realise it as a project, even under Ashley. I doubt someone who called him the "Spanish Tony Pulis" earlier this season would see it in that way though.

Didn't know whether to post this in here or SNWOAT, but this video was uploaded in February 2015, in Rafa's last season at Napoli. Looking at the clubs he's managed, Real Madrid aside, they're all working class cities that live and breathe football; 2 of them one club cities, Napoli and Newcastle. He must love the passion and infatuation the people of the cities have for football, it's all they have. Everything around the cities is built on football. Love the fact he likes that. I bloody well hope he's here for years and that he sees out Ashley. Should that happen he's going to go down as our greatest manager of all time, I'm sure. I f***ing love the man.

Fair play to the Villa media team, like.

In fairness he was allowed to sign the likes of Higuain as well so not exactly shopping in netto like he is with us. Was problems for him at Liverpool with regards to transfer funding and owners as well. No wonder there were 2 or 3 duds. I just think the "Rafa makes some shit signings" is a bit of a misconception about him alongside the "Rafa isn't great in a league season" and "Rafa doesn't play good football" ones. All of them are bollocks. Give him what he needs, and he'll make excellent signings (may be a few duds, all managers have them, Rafa has said so himself), he'll lead a team that's great in a league season and will play good football.